Interview with Marcy Harriell

An evening of dance set to the iconic music of the legendary Burt Bacharach awaits Nashville audiences in the new show The Look of Love, featuring Broadway star singer/actress Marcy Harriell. The performance will showcase a selection of Bacharach’s timeless songs, known for being sung by legendary artists across generations. Adding to the fabulous show, the Mark Morris Dance Group dancers are clad in vibrant costumes, performing original choreography by the esteemed choreographer Mark Morris, with costumes by fashion great Isaac Mizrahi. This fabulous show is happening in TPAC’s Polk Theater June 28 & 29. (TPAC.org)

TRIBUNE: Give us a brief preview or teaser about what it’s like being a part of this amazing production.

HARRIELL: This show is pure joy — people always leave happier than when they came in. A huge part of that is the connection: the dancers are tied to the musicians, the music is tied to the dance, and the audience becomes a part of that from the very first song. I love seeing the immediate recognition in the theater. Those audience smiling faces get carried away by the movement. It’s just joy!

TRIBUNE: The show features songs from the legendary Burt Bachrach. Do you have one or 2 songs from the show that are your personal favorites?

HARRIELL: My favorite thing is transitioning from one song to the next—“Anyone Who Had A Heart” into “Walk On By;” or “Always Something There to Remind Me” into “The Look of Love.” The acrobatics of it! Emotionally and vocally, it’s a marathon. Burt’s songs are easy on the ears but deceptively difficult…my favorite kind of composer. And walking the paths that Dionne, Dusty and Aretha forged is thrilling.

TRIBUNE: Do you recall the first time that you heard a Burt Bachrach song?

HARRIELL: I can’t say I know for sure the first time I heard a Burt penned song—mainly because he wrote so many hits, it’s likely I heard a Burt song before knowing who wrote it! Like Aretha’s cover of “Say A Little Prayer,” or Naked Eyes version of “Always Something There”— they were favorites long before I knew they were Bacharach.

TRIBUNE: Have you ever performed in Nashville before? If not, what are you looking forward to about performing here?

HARRIELL: This will be my first time ever in Nashville…and I want some cowboy boots!! Desperately! Is that terribly touristy of me? I’ve wanted a beautiful pair of authentic boots for years, ever since I gave away an incredible pink pair. I was working on Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof, and the costume designer gifted me the boots I wore in the movie—but they were a half size too small, and so I gave them away. Still…who gives away pink cowboy boots from a Tarantino movie?! I have regrets.

TRIBUNE: I don’t blame you! You’re a real ‘fashionista’ who loves sewing. Do you have plans to launch your own line of projects or products?

HARRIELL: Yes! Let me share a quick Bacharach-related story: 72 hours before we left for our first performance, I was informed I’d need to wear “concert black.” Anyone who’s met me knows I live in technicolor (see: Pink cowboy boots). All of my handmade performance gowns at that time were incandescent…but I did have blackout curtains, and my sewing machine. I boarded the plane, with my first black concert gown, and now I’m on number seven, maybe? (And I’ve moved into loftier materials.) As for fabulous plans… I’m releasing a line of patterns soon, and they’ll come with video classes in the style of our popular YouTube channel “Handmade Harriells.” One of the patterns is based off of that first gown…fingers crossed, it may even be out by the time I step onstage in Nashville. I might be wearing it with cowboy boots!